Package for lobsters or the like.



No. 704,563. Patented luly I5, 1902.

A. C. MGLOON.

PACKAGE FOR LOBSTERS OR THE LIKE.

(Application filed Apr. 5. 1902.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE.

ALBERT CQMCLOON, OF ROCKLAND, MAINE.

PACKAGE FOR LOBSTERS OR THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 704,563, dated July 15, 1902.

Application filed April 8, 1902. Serial No. 101,939. (No model.)

To all whom, it may; concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT O. MCLOON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockland, Knox county, Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Packages for Lobsters or the Like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a package for use in the shipment of live lobsters and the like, and is designed especially to decrease the weight of such packages and to provide for icing and refrigeration of lobsters, while perfectly draining the package of the fresh water from the melted ice, which is detrimental to lobsters, and at the same time protecting the lobsters from the weight of the ice and also the weight of other packages placed on top of them, as it is a common method to place packages on top of each other in transportation, which often crushes the ice, when packed in the usual way, through the shells of the lobsters, thereby killing them or mangling them so as to be unfit for sale.

My invention also includes means for a direct and rapid circulation of cool air through the lobsters, allowing the escape of warm air.

My invention includes a wooden repository lined with wire or other screening of suitable mesh, the same supported and attached to the sides of the repository by wooden edg ings of such width as to form suitable pockets for fine ice and the circulation of cool air, the supports and screening being of less height than the repository, forming a cage in the bottom of the repository equidistant from the sides of same and supporting a cover adapted to support large pieces of ice above the cage and to direct the drainage beyond the sides of the cage, the bottom of the repository to be provided with suitable drainage-outlets.

In the drawing the figure is a section taken longitudinally through the repository and showing cage and supports in side elevation.

The Wooden repository is shown as A and is of pail shape, flaring upwardly, preferably, while within it and attached to its side is the cage B, of screening and of true cylindrical shape, being of less size both in diameter and height than the wooden repository, thereby forming pockets between the repository and cage, as shown at H, and a space above, as

i fastened to the wooden repository and the screening, and a suificient number of these are used to hold the wire screening in its proper position and'to strengthen the package.

A'cover D is placed over the cage 13, having adiameterin excess thereof, so as to overhang it, and thus permit the cover to be held in place by partly driving through the cover into the supports 0 the nails E. By partly driving the nails they can be readily withdrawn and the'cover removed. The fact that the cover D overhangs the screening permits the drainage to be carried away from the cage B, and thus the fresh water is kept away from the lobsters, which, as is Well known, is animportant advantage. Fine ice is packed between the wooden repository and the screening in the spaces H, and in the space I large pieces of ice are placed, while openings G are made in the bottom of the repository to permit the escape of Water as the ice melts.

In order to provide for a circulation of cool air through the'package and to provide for the escape of warm air, I provide a tubular duct in thecenter of the cover B, and thus a circulation is established by the cold air from the ice descending and drawn toward the center of the cagedlobsters by the vacuum caused by the rising of the warm air to the space above the ice through the tubular duct F.

While I prefer this arrangement, I do not limit myself to a package provided with this means of circulation.

The opening at the top of the package is preferably covered with matting or burlap secured by the top hoop of the package.

What I claim is'- 1. In a package for shipping lobsters and the like, a wooden repository, pail shape and flaring upwardly, preferably, alining of wire or other screening forming a cage at the bottom of and equidistant from thesides of the wooden repository leaving space between the cage and wooden repository both at thesides and at the top adapted to be filled with ice, means for supporting said cage and attaching same to a wooden repository and a cover overhanging said cage to support ice and the cover for causing a direct and rapid circarry away drainage therefrom, substantially culation of cool air through the package sub- [O as described. i

2. A wooden repository, an inner cage of wire or other screening, means for supporting and holding same in position, a cover therefor overhanging said cage, ice-spaces l around and above said cage, and means comst'antially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT O. MOLOON;

Witnesses;

JOSEPH E. MOORE, J. W. OROCKER.

prising a tube extending from an opening in 

